TIL ... Sodium bicarbonate helps muscle endurance.

There are probably some of you that already know this and are savvy to this in your training/racing regime, but it turns out drinking sodium bicarbonate will help reduce lactic acid build up and aid with muscle fatigue recovery.

References:

General review of the past studies, summarizing results, caveats of conclusions and some of the physiology behind this.
http://www.sportsci.org/traintech/buffer/lrm.htm

Another general review. Describes the physiological processes fairly well in layman terms.
http://www.brianmac.co.uk/lactic.htm

Case Studies:
Old Study on racing greyhound dogs and endurance
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9729581?dopt=Abstract

This tested the reflex, endurance effects of sodium bicarbonate ingestion,
http://www.jissn.com/content/7/1/33
results showed possible improved performance in long endurance matches

This one is recent testing on Sprint athletes,
http://www.springerlink.com/content/q6136547l50r702p/
results showed a change in blood acidity levels, but did not affect performance levels.

Baking soda in sports

Small amounts of sodium bicarbonate have been shown to be useful as a supplement for athletes in speed-based events, like middle distance running, lasting from about one to seven minutes.[31][32] But overdose is a serious risk because sodium bicarbonate is slightly toxic[33] and in particular gastrointestinal irritation is of concern.[32] Additionally this practice causes a significant increase in dietary sodium.

This sounds like something people shouldn't do!

All in moderation folks. It's not a daily supplement. Just something for the race day etc.

sodium bicarb is no match for your very acidic stomach - the bicarb will be completely neutralized and you'll just get a big dose of sodium for your poor kidneys to deal with.
i call BS.

sodium bicarb is no match for your very acidic stomach - the bicarb will be completely neutralized and you'll just get a big dose of sodium for your poor kidneys to deal with.
i call BS.

so did most of my friends. read the references, they're not from health mags, they're actually reputable peer reviewed scientific journals.

so did most of my friends. read the references, they're not from health mags, they're actually reputable peer reviewed scientific journals.

Science?!

sodium bicarb is no match for your very acidic stomach - the bicarb will be completely neutralized and you'll just get a big dose of sodium for your poor kidneys to deal with.
i call BS.

That's not true.
I have a blood disorder that is exasperated by the levels of acid in my system. Sodium Bicarbonate is one of the things that I have been directed to use by my doctor to get those levels down.

It's really easy to test the theory.

Snag a few PH piss strips and take your levels before, and after a dose of sodium bicarb. You'll see a difference in the results.

I know now when my body is acidic. I'm hot, testy, and just don't feel "healthy". When my system is alkaline, everything from my sports performance, to my mood is better.

what blood disorder is that? are you getting advice from a physician?
you may slightly alkalinize your urine but your blood pH is finely regulated to stay between 7.35 and 7.45 unless you're very ill (ie. acidotic from an overwhelming infection requiring hospitalization). i assure you that you do not "feel" a difference between 7.35 and 7.45, for example, and you will not raise your pH above 7.45 by ingesting bicarb. even massive central intravenous doses in someone with critical acidosis has little effect on pH.

Stop pushing! We're not Lance Armstrong here. Jesus Christ Allmighty!
:cake:

what blood disorder is that? are you getting advice from a physician?
you may slightly alkalinize your urine but your blood pH is finely regulated to stay between 7.35 and 7.45 unless you're very ill (ie. acidotic from an overwhelming infection requiring hospitalization). i assure you that you do not "feel" a difference between 7.35 and 7.45, for example, and you will not raise your pH above 7.45 by ingesting bicarb. even massive central intravenous doses in someone with critical acidosis has little effect on pH.

pffft doctors. what do they know.

Well - baking soda is often an ingredient in cookies. So me, I'd just eat cookies.

Well - baking soda is often an ingredient in cookies. So me, I'd just eat cookies.

Finally, someone that has sense!

I call BS as this is a bit misleading when it comes to endurance. Only an absolute idiot would buy into this as the great solution to endurance sport. It is being failed to be mentioned that sodium is only a small part of the endurance puzzle.